Juvat Westendorp

Juvat Westendorp (born 31 January 1989) is a versatile Dutch performer whose career spans dance, choreography, and acting. From his early breakthrough on the Dutch‑Belgian edition of So You Think You Can Dance in 2011, where he reached the semi‑finals, Westendorp quickly established himself as a dynamic stage presence, and he later leveraged that exposure into a series of television and film roles. He first appeared on Dutch television in the medical‑drama series Malaika (2013) and gained wider recognition with a short stint on the long‑running soap Goede tijden, slechte tijden in 2015, playing Ardil Baydar before the character’s dramatic exit. His talent for embodying diverse characters led to supporting roles in De Spa (2017‑2018) and a lead in the horror‑fantasy film Nachtwacht: De poort der zielen (2018). Westendorp’s filmography accelerated with back‑to‑back commercial successes; he headlined the comedy Men at Work: Miami (2020) and the contemporary romance Casanova’s (2020), both directed by Johan Nijenhuis and Jamel Aattache respectively, each earning the Golden Film award for surpassing 100,000 tickets sold. In 2022 he starred in the adventure picture Silverstar and embraced the romantic comedy genre with Happy Single (2023), continuing a streak of Golden Film accolades. Beyond the screen, he has proved his competitive edge by winning Boxing Stars (2018) and finishing second on Dancing on Ice (2019‑2020). His artistic range also includes drag performance as Alexis Star and Miss Contessa, showcasing a flamboyant side on Make up your Mind (2022). As founder of Juvat Performing Arts Studios in Zaandam, he mentors the next generation of dancers, while his ambassadorship for Stichting Het Vergeten Kind highlights his commitment to social causes. In 2023 he graced the cover of the Dutch edition of Men’s Health, cementing his status as a prominent public figure in contemporary Dutch entertainment.